Life Update

I’m baaaack! In case you guys were wondering where I was hiding, I was taking a well deserved social media detox, spending time with family and just getting my plans for 2017 sorted. 2016 was a year that showed me exactly in which direction I wanted to go and where I want to be. It showed me that even with my fear of flying, I have such a desire to travel and meet new people and get to know different cultures. Which is why I resigned from my job last Wednesday and decided to move to the United Kingdom.

“You must be so excited” which is what a lot of people have been telling me. To be honest, I’m not that excited… If you know me personally you’d know that I hate South African winters, let alone freezing cold, snow filled European winters. As I write this I’m laying on a lounger next to the pool in 27 degree weather at The Bay Hotel. Besides the weather putting a damper on things I then still have to deal with the implications of Brexit, finding a job as soon as I get there because companies in the UK don’t want to employ me if I’m not there, finding a place to live, having to deal with snotty British people and having no friends and family.

“Then why are you going?!” …you must be thinking. Well let me see… It’s a mix up of many different things but mostly for personal and career development, to be able to travel whilst I’m still young, to build my career and then maybe, just maybe find someone to marry along the way too. After being single for nearly my 3rd year I kind of just realized that I don’t think there’s anyone here for me so I’m taking my search abroad. I haven’t been on a single date since my last relationship and I just get the feeling that South African guys in general aren’t interested in me. And that’s okay.

I’ve been asking a lot of people that made the move abroad how their experience was and if they could offer me any sort of advice and many of them had a similar story of being lucky enough to link up with family or a spouse on the other side. It’s always so much easier when you have someone on the other side waiting for you as that helps with your accommodation and also so that you have a safety net to assist you financially until you’ve found employment. I have none of that! I’m going in completely blind, with a lot of hope in my heart and hopefully enough money to keep me afloat for a month. I’m literally just going to wing it. Am I crazy? Possibly. Am I brave? People say so. Am I giving up everything in an attempt to make the most out of my future? Definitely!

The reason why I haven’t been on social media much lately is because I’ve been spending all my free time applying for job after job after job. Sadly with every application comes another application denial. As it looks now, it’s super difficult finding a job and I can only hope that things will turn around as soon as I’m physically in the UK. There’s a few people that I know of that have recently moved to the UK and have been searching for a job for MONTHS! I don’t have months to be looking for a job, this is what makes this ride that much more scary! And as much as I hate to admit it, I can’t see myself taking on one of those shitty jobs that they like to give to South Africans like packing fruit in a factory or working as a night shift security guard. I’ve worked far too hard in my career of choice to succumb to a job that I hate simply because it helps me “get by”.

My biggest fear is that this gamble I’m about to take doesn’t work out in my favor and then I’m left homeless on the icy streets of London WTF! Imagine the headlines: Worlds First Ever Beauty Blogger To Go From Beauty To Hobo. I could cry just thinking about it! But on a more serious note, everyone keeps on telling me that if it doesn’t work out then just come home. For me right now that doesn’t seem like an option. For me that seems like I’ve given up and that my financial sacrifice that I took to move to the UK would all be in vain. Besides that, I come back to nothing and with nothing and would need to start from the bottom up again.

Then there’s Brexit. Let me just quickly explain to you how Brexit affects me. I have dual citizenship with South Africa and Hungary. Hungary is part of the 28 European Union (EU) countries which allows free movement across Europe, well at least until Brexit happens. Britain wants to shut their doors to all EU citizens as soon as Brexit is officially put in place. You guys, Brexit is a real deal problem right now! Am I picking the worst time to go to the UK?Hell yes! I’ve been in contact with a couple of UK recruitment agencies lately and one agency (who’s name I shall not mention) who I asked for job hunting advice came back to me with the following: “there are a lot of candidates looking for work and with the Brexit situation, it will be a tricky year” What’s that even supposed to mean? Are they discriminating against EU nationals to make them leave the country? Are they xenophobic? Is this why I’m finding such a hard time getting companies to look at my job application???

Then there’s my blog. I’m so worried that I won’t be able to invest much time into my blog. Not only that but it’s also going to take some time getting to know my way around the UK beauty world and to figure out where I should shop for all my essentials. I’ll have to rebuild all my PR connections and networks from scratch. Basically I’ll have to rebuild my entire blog brand and reputation from the bottom up before I can start collaborating with brands that I’m passionate about.

2016 was such a great year for What The Blog, I got featured in 2 mini mags associated with Clicks, I got featured on both the international Instagram pages of Essence Cosmetics and Catrice Cosmetics and I’ve received so much incredible feedback from PR companies commending me on my contribution to their brands. I can only hope that it will continue in the UK and that brands and PR Companies will continue to recognize my contribution to the beauty industry. I have so many plans for my blog for this year including a YouTube channel and I really hope and pray that I’ll be able to follow through with my plans and achieve my goals.

Side Note: I have no intention of discontinuing my blog whatsoever.

If I wasn’t humble before, I sure am going to have to humble myself with this move. I could possibly face tough times ahead but if it all works out then I sure am guaranteed amazing opportunities and adventures in the years to come! Once I’m all settled in then blogging will revert back to business as usual so don’t think that I’m going to forget about you guys that easily! Giveaways will still be extended to my South African family (you) and I hope you continue to follow my adventures on social media.

Also if you have any friends or family in the UK that would be willing to help me ease into my new hometown, show me around or someone that knows of someone that knows of another person who has tons of connections to get me a rad job, then also give me a shout 🙂

This is very inspiring,, its very difficult to have to make a choice like this and most people dont do it because they scared of failure.. but its good to take risks in life and im sure this will work out for you,, I hope it does.. may your journey ahead be prosperous and successful

Wow I agree…this is very inspiring! I have no doubt that you will succeed….you have the drive, ambition and…the heart to make it!! I’d be scared shitless, but you know the saying…nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m confident you’ll do well…and we can’t wait to read all about your adventures 😉

That’s so true @simonecameron:disqus nothing ventured, nothing gained! I’m so overwhelmed by all the positive messages I’ve been getting from you ladies! A lot of the time I do doubt myself and often think will I be able to pull this one off, I’ve done a lot of crazy things in my life but this just takes the cake. But then I realize that what others see in me I don’t often see in myself, so I really need to start giving myself more credit <3 Thank you for the lovely comment xoxo

I also wanted to do exactly this, but my brother talked me out of it. Also, it will be ten times harder for me, if I were to take the plunge- I’m still at university, with no work experience, and no real skills to speak of. Also, its dangerous out there for a single female, with absolutely nobody to turn to in a foreign country. You must bear in mind, we live in a dangerous world. As exciting as it might be to just wing it, its not something i think im truly ready for. I want to finish my degree, and then go overseas. I know i will need financial aid aswell, because britain is a very expensive country. Also, i dont think i want to rely on the goodwill of strangers, because, like i said, its a dangerous world… Ultimately, I would rather put off my move for a few more years, and know that i have a solid foundation in place, instead of rushing off prematurely… My mother always taught me, ” patience is a virtue”…. I understand where you coming from, because i too am deeply unhappy where i am, not just geographically speaking, but also on a very personal level. I know how it feels to want more out of life, and to feel like there arent enough opportunities where you currently are. But the fact is, I’d rather be unhappy with a full tummy, and in my warm bed where I am, than to face the possibility of starving and being homeless in a cold, rainy foreign country….. Nevertheless, I wish you all the best. Perhaps with the right contacts you could fall into a great job and the arms of a wonderful man! You are certainly braver, than I! Good luck and GOD BLESS, XO

(Btw, I was wondering, how is it that your family is letting you do this? I’m sure youre a grown woman, as am I, but still, my brothers wouldnt let me go, because they’ll worry about me…)

Hey @archangel_aarthi:disqus 🙂 Its really not that difficult to travel as a solo female if you’re educated enough on how to do it safely… Travel bloggers like Adventurous Kate and The Blonde Abroad have written great articles and provided useful tips on being a female solo traveler. So much that I was able to successfully travel to Thailand all by myself last year. Yes it is a dangerous world and I don’t know from which part of the world you live in, but I live in one of the most dangerous countries in the world (South Africa). I often hear of South Africans that have moved abroad and how they brag about how safe they felt. Even when I went to New York last year I felt such a great sense of safety and security and that’s not something I’m used to in South Africa…

I’m glad to hear that you have a good head on your shoulders to first finish your studies, build up some work experience first, save and then consider going. That’s always a wise decision.

My family don’t really like the idea of me moving over but they know I have a desire to have a successful career and to find a decent man to call my husband someday so they understand that I need to do this for me. I have a really small family and always just imagine that once they’re gone, then I have no one left in South Africa, which to me, is not any different than having no one in the UK with me.

if you’ve traveled before you’d know how much more there is to see and experience in this world. Life is not meant to be lived in one place. As they saying goes: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page”

Hello! I have travelled before- I had my first international trip when I was 13 years old. I do in fact love travelling, and definitely want to see more of Europe! I will definitely check out those travel blogs you’ve mentioned, as I am interested in learning how to travel better, and alone next time. I know it’s not that dangerous, but sometimes it can be. The biggest difficulty is the financial costs involved, at least for me. I belong to a big family, but my parents are dead and most of my relatives are estranged from me, so even if I were to leave, it wouldn’t be a big deal to me either, as I am quite solitary. I really do want to leave, but I don’t want to go without a plan in place first. My brother Also supports my decision to immigrate, but he tells me not to wing it, because in the end it will be costly and a waste of time, to immigrate in that manner. Also, in my area of studies, I won’t be allowed to practise my profession upon arrival in a first world country-as the standards there are much higher, and they require a higher level of skills from their professionals. This is something that concerns me, because employment is very important, as no one can survive without money or a form of income…
Actually I live in south Africa as well, as I am studying here! I agree with you-it is a very dangerous country that is why I want to leave as well. Also I find there are no work prospects for me here, which is why i am so desperate to leave. Also I think the men in this country are too ugly for me, and I am saving myself for my future European husband, lol… I totally understand your struggles and know exactly where you are coming from! I also fully empathise with your reasons to leave, and I know what it feels like to desire better opportunities, yet there aren’t any in south africa or many other third world countries for that matter. I’m glad I discovered your blog, and can’t wait to read more of your posts! I want to start my own blog, but I’m quite shy and I feel like being on the internet is too much exposure, for my liking, as I’m a very private person. I also take an interest in makeup and beauty, and wanted to do beauty blogging, but my studies take up most of my time right now. What type of visa are you going to the Uk with if I may ask?

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Hey Everyone!

My name is Tarryn and I'm a beauty blogger living in London. I created this tiny space on the web because my Facebook friends got tired of me posting makeup on my profile. Obsessed with any unicorn and mermaid inspired makeup. Sunsets are my favourite colour.